Redirect Left wrote: 24 Dec 2023 03:17
Didn't witness any bad things happening, but you do meet some... rather peculiar people.
That's just a regular day with the travelling public
Redirect Left wrote: 24 Dec 2023 03:17
That did lead me to something concerning, I was sat at the front of the train, so i had a good view of platforms & signs where the driver sees, and my gosh there are a lot of "check aspect" signs, I would rather hope the train drivers don't need to be told to look at the signal status before going onwards! I certainly don't set off in my car without checking the lights first, at least. It makes me wonder if there was a pattern of forgetting to look up at the aspect so they had to remind them...
If only you knew someone who drove these lines and could give some insight....
There's quite a lot of interesting things that can be talked about there, so I'll talk about a few things and experiences that gives a good insight to things behind the cab door
Basically, it's risk mitigation. They are typically installed at areas which are deemed to have a high risk of distraction, or where repeated incidents have occurred. You see all sorts of signage like that, but some of the most common are things like "DRA Reminder Boards" and "Doors Open Other Side" boards on monitors/stop boards. The "Check Signal" one is typically placed in areas where a signal may be difficult to see (or not as clear) from a stopping position, or where it is out-of-sight and it's reminding you to recall your previous signal. Or just simple if you have a lot going on in one place it's an extra reminder for your short term memory which can only hold/process a very limited number of things at a time.
With a board saying "Doors Open Other Side", this were typically used on DOO monitors which were off-side from the platform. Monitor on the left for the cab window, but platform on the right. You're coming in, trying to line up with the monitor. You're focused on the monitor, drop the speed, check the signal also on the left, bring down the speed, line-up, stop. Release doors. BUT WAIT! You've been looking at the left side that entire time. Everything is on the left from the signal, to the monitors... to the door release buttons for the left side. And there is the risk for that. It's a trap waiting to be sprung which is why we incorporate a lot of Non-Technical Skills and what's called "Personal Protection Strategies" - More on that shortly =)
Driving a car and driving a train can never be compared as they are so vastly different in the way you react, monitor, concentrate, and have awareness of what's around you. Typically in a car, you only have to really focus and worry about what's 100m ahead of you (for the most part). On a train, you have to be focused on not only what's directly in your line of sight, but you have to be thinking upwards of 2-3 miles ahead of you. You need to know what's coming up before you've seen it. You need to remember the last x-number of miles you've past and anything important. You need to have your situational awareness on-point at all times. You need to know what you're doing/planning to do next, then after that, and how that's going to affect you. You may need to concern yourself with what's on board as well or any out of course situation.
Now I mentioned 'Personal Protection Strategies'. These are basically things we do/use/say to help remind us of things and mitigate against incidents. Sometimes it's using risk-triggered commentary to remind us what we've passed or just done, or to say what we're doing ahead. Verbal is a very clever thing as saying it and hearing it back is far stronger at triggering your short term memory and can help moving key events from short term to long term - where we recall them much easier and more of them. Other simple things like "Point and Confirm". Similar to what you see Japanese railway workers using (one of my preferred methods as well!). Covering door controls is another, tapping desks, "pausing and think" for situations, hell I've known of people to sing a bit to themselves for some scenarios (I tend to sing "All the Single Yellows.." from time to time
). All this, plus some helpful signage, helps keep us safe and focused on the jobs at hand and reminded of any crucial information.
Now, I'll give you a very good scenario of how a drivers mind may work on what would be a very common and typical situation. As it's a good insight into the kinds of things we may be thinking/processing at all times.
Put yourself in the seat of a train for a moment, and imagine this is your story below.
You're running at a good 73mph, just under linespeed It's a misty damp morning, low-laying sun. There's a station coming up soon that we need to start braking for. The track is likely to be slippy in places. We need to allow a bit extra distance to test the track conditions when braking. On approach to our usual 'braking area/point' for that station, we put the brake in and gauge the conditions. There's a gentle slip, but it's controllable. We reduce the brake slightly to keep a nice brake curve for the station.
We approach a yellow signal, the speed is already well below our target speed for passing this yellow signal, that's fine. The AWS sounds and is acknowledged, all good. Continue braking, red ahead after the station. Speed has dropped to 40mph, station in sight. Aiming to hit the start of the platform at 30mph. 12 car station, we're driving a 12 car, so we're aiming for the 12-marker at the end of the platform. Gotta remember.. 12. 12. 12. We've been driving 8-cars all week and this is our first 12 in a while. The stop board is annoyingly placed on the left however and the platform is on the right. 12-right. 12-right. Oh, and I passed a yellow so the red is out of sight just round the bend out of station. 12-Rightside-RedAhead.
Suddenly there's a rumble and a bump. The sander light comes on as the train hits some poor adhesion on the track and has started to slide on the way into the platform! Blast! Apply some more brake to ensure it's under control and fortunately it reacts in good time. Excellent, this isn't a problem then. Back to the task at hand. Had a yellow signal, reduce speed. There's a station ahead to slow down for and stop at. Drop the speed gently and a little lower than usual, take it easier in case it slips. Monitoring the platform, it's fairly busy, but manageable. Everyone's standing back and clear, platform staff just gave a friendly acknowledging wave. Giving one back and a smile. Right we're nearly at 10mph, where's our marker again... there's the 8 marker. Bring the speed dow- NO! Wait, 12. 12!! Keep rolling to the end. Phew. That was a bit close! Stopped at the 12 marker, doors right, doors right, and released. Now to monitor the screens. Everyone's getting on and off fine, few late runners.
Check the time.. we're a bit late, that's alright. Check our next stop.. yup we're now running fast through the next 3 stations, good! All clear to close doors- oh blast. Someone's jumped in last second and got their bag stuck. Honestly, why would you do that?! We're late as it is anyway. Urgh, never mind they've got on. Doors are.... all shut but that one and.... click! There we go!
We have interlock, let's check the cameras and doors one last time and make sure it's safe to depart.... 1-2-3-4-5-6.... 7-8-9-10-11-12.. We're golden! Right, apply power steadily. There's a bit of a shutter as the wheels spin up a bit. We'll reduce power slightly and put a bit of sand down to help us get rolling. After all, we've got a lot more people on now making the train heavier. Aaand there we go, we're rolling. Keep powering up. 20... 25...30... slowly getting there- *BEEEEEEEEEE* - The AWS sounds. We acknowledge and think "Why that sounding- SH*T! THE RED!" Full brake applied to bring the speed down. Luckily we haven't got about 30mph yet and it's coming down in plenty of time. Signal comes into view round the corner, fortunately it's cleared to a single yellow. Thank goodness for that. Boy that was close! Power back up again to a reasonable coasting speed.
My god, TWICE in a few minutes I've nearly messed up. What's wrong with us today! We should be doing better than this. How did... oh. Ohhh!! Now we remember. When we nearly stopped at the wrong board, and before of that worry we forgot to set the DRA (used for reminding us of a red signal ahead) when we stopped. Totally forgot about the signal with everything going on. Damnit that's such a silly error! Shouldn't have done that.. and we forgot about our Personal Protection Strategies when approaching the station. Gewd this is a rubbish day- No. Shh. Clear head, Focus! Worry about that later.
Passed a single yellow, red ahead. Cost at 40, no more than 30 over the TPWS loops, bring down to 20- no, 15 for the AWS magnet as it's slippy. Got it! Back to the job at hand. Refocus attention. Check everything. Let's crack on!
Now that... is a very plausible situation that could and certainly has occurred a number of times. I've had my fair share of moments where I've lost my situational awareness and got in a twist with things, nearly made mistakes or forgotten something.
Likewise I admit I've had an incident before too when I ended up in a complete muddle and overshot a station in the early hours. Basically, without covering all the details.. reduced visibility, misread where exactly I was, head was not in a good place at the time mental health wise, and I ended up thinking I was a whole signal section away from a station still. Shut off at the 1st, brake at the 2nd, stop at the 3rd in the platform. Well with everything going on... I thought the 2nd signal was the 1st. When what I thought was the 2nd signal came into view through the misty rain, I prepared to brake. Then suddenly the platform appeared before it and slammed in the emergency. Wasn't quite enough, slipped a little in the weather, and over-shot but about 3 coaches. Not my finest moment, but in a way I'm glad it happened as I learnt a lot from it and I realised how bad my head-space was at the time and I needed to sort that out.
End of the day, we are humans. Our heads are wired to make mistakes.
However, we can try and protect against that best we can and if something like a little sign can help trigger that memory bubble... I'm all game!
Hope that was a good and interesting read
